5 Things You Didn't Know About The Departed

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The 2006 summer movie season is rapidly coming to a close and the Oscars are on the horizon. Studios will begin rolling out their pretenders and contenders in scarcely a month, which means that grim dramas, complex characters and plenty of films with a message are headed your way.

One of Hollywood’s most talented but least rewarded directors from an Oscars standpoint, Martin Scorsese, will be rolling out his latest contender on October 6, 2006. Will this be the year that Martin finally breaks through and hauls in a statue or will he be jilted yet again? Read on for the lowdown on Marty’s latest, The Departed.

1. The Departed is a remake

Scorsese has only treaded into remake territory once before with Cape Fear in 1991. The Departed is a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong action flick Infernal Affairs.

Infernal Affairs made a big splash overseas and was released stateside to mostly positive reviews. The plot involved an undercover cop who infiltrated a gang and a mole who infiltrated the police department. Ultimately, both ended up trying to track each other down.

The general plot of The Departed will be similar to that of Infernal Affairs, but there will be many differences. Martin Scorsese apparently has not seen — nor does he have the intention of seeing — Infernal Affairs. It is likely that the setting and characters will be the first of many elements that Scorsese will alter from the original.

We know that Scorsese is far from having an aversion to brutal violence, but his films are very character-driven; as such, The Departed will likely lack the dynamic energy of the original.

2. The Departed is a Brad and Jennifer production

As if we haven’t heard enough about Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston and Brangelina, The Departed is a film that falls under the umbrella of Plan B, the production company that was started by Brad and Jennifer. Plan B was previously developing films with Warner Bros., but inked a three-year deal with Paramount in 2006.

While fall 2006 appears to be laden with Oscar pretenders and contenders, Scorsese’s name, a heavyweight cast and continued snubs may very well carry The Departed to the promised land. Which raises the question: What would happen if Scorsese ascended the podium to claim best director?

Would Brad and Jennifer join Scorsese? Would Brangelina make an appearance? Would a violent and heated catfight erupt? Needless to say, the paparazzi are likely rooting for The Departed in the hopes of some juicy Oscar gossip and scandal. It’s a subplot that Scorsese likely never intended, but he might have to deal with it if The Departed makes it all the way.

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